Whitman leans against suspension of climate law

CAMPAIGN 2010

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, August 5, 2010

Photo: Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman speaks to supporters about her plan to create jobs at her office opening event in East Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, in Los Angeles, Calif. Whitman's rival in the November general election is Democrat Jerry Brown. less

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman speaks to supporters about her plan to create jobs at her office opening event in East Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, in Los Angeles, Calif. Whitman's ... more

Photo: Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press

Whitman leans against suspension of climate law

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman said Wednesday that she probably will vote against a November ballot initiative that would suspend AB32, California's landmark greenhouse gas reduction law.

Whitman, appearing on the conservative John and Ken radio show on KFI in Southern California, said, "In all likelihood I will vote no on Prop. 23," adding that she still backs a one-year moratorium that she would impose if elected. Proposition 23 would suspend AB32 until unemployment drops to 5.5 percent or lower for a year.

Whitman had been pressed on the issue but had not stated her position on the ballot proposition. She made her statement with the caveat that she had not made her "final decision."

Opponents of the proposition welcomed Whitman's stance, calling it an "enormous boost" for their efforts, while supporters noted that she still has serious concerns with AB32.

Earlier this week, a Sacramento judge made several alterations to the ballot summary that had been sought by supporters of the proposition, replacing references to "polluters" with "sources of emissions" and changing the description of the measure from requiring the state to "suspend" rather than "abandon" implementation of greenhouse gas reduction measures.

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